NATCHITOCHES – The Southeastern track and field team heads to the campus of Northwestern State to compete in the Southland Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships this weekend. Events begin at 11 a.m. Friday and the meet runs through Sunday afternoon.

Sixty Southeastern athletes will make the trip to compete for conference honors as well as possible trips to the NCAA Regionals, May 26-28, in Bloomington, Ind. and Eugene, Ore. The NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be held Jun 8-11 in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Lady Lions boast some of the best performances in the Southland this season. Judith Schultheis recorded the conference's best time in the 400-meter hurdles (1:00.15) at the LSU Alumni Gold. Brittany Pfantz recorded the second-best pole vault (12-11.50) performance of the season at the Cole-Lancon Invitational last month. Michelle Ogashi recorded the third-best triple jump(41-00.25) and Chelsey Steele the third-best javelin (146-08) throw.

On the men's side, some of Southeastern's top performances this year were recorded by Kovey Simmons and Michael Rheams. Simmons finished the prestigious Texas Relays with the Southland's third-best pole vault (17-00.75) performance and Rheams recorded the fourth-best triple jump (50-11.50) at the Jim Mize Invitational.

All-session passes for the three-day meet are $15 for adults, $10 for youth, with Southeastern students and children ages 5-under free. Single-day passes are $10 for adults, $5 for youth (ages 6-18).

Tickets can be purchased online through ticket links at www.nsudemons.com, by calling the Northwestern State ticket office (318-357-4268), and using VISA, MasterCard or American Express. Transactions at the ticket booth, located at the gate of the Northwestern Soccer complex adjacent to the Ledet Track Complex, will be cash only during the meet.

Live results of the Southland Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships can be found online at www.southland.org.